"So, is your innocence still intact?"
The blade in Chu'he's hand gleamed coldly, its icy glare leaving no doubt—she truly wanted to stab him.
Ninth was pinned beneath this "ferocious tiger," utterly defenseless. He asked cautiously, "What if it isn't? What would you do, A'he?"
Chu'he's eyes flickered downward, toward his waist, as she snarled, "I’ll make sure you never pee again!"
That phrasing, she’d learned from him.
Though Ninth was naive, he vaguely understood the importance of his "hardware." His long legs instinctively drew in slightly as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
The little green snake had long since slithered down and coiled around Chu'he’s shoulder, looking down at its immobilized master with smug triumph.
It hissed in her ear:
—Master, chop him off!
Chu'he’s blade twitched.
Ninth hurriedly said, "My innocence is intact!"
Chu'he narrowed her eyes. "You didn’t touch any of the girls here?"
Ninth shook his head. "No."
None of the people here were as interesting as his bugs—why would he bother?
Chu'he pressed further. "There are so many girls here. None caught your eye?"
Ninth replied, "I only like ones like A'he."
"So you’re saying if there’s a girl who looks like me, you’d like her instead!"
"No!" Ninth said quickly. "A'he’s bone density, shoulder-to-hip ratio, the way your spine moves when you walk, even the curve of your shoulder blades when you turn—they’re all one of a kind."
Suddenly, he lifted his head and smiled, his eyes bright. "So just looking alike isn’t enough. It has to be you."
Chu'he: "...Stop smiling. It’s kind of gross."
Ninth pressed his lips together, cheeks puffing slightly.
But Chu'he finally lowered the knife. "Do you even know what the House of Tender Delights is?"
Ninth answered, "A place to listen to songs."
He’d only followed Heart Knife into a brothel once, yet he’d already picked up the local accent.
Chu'he scrutinized him head to toe, confirming he hadn’t been taken advantage of, then demanded, "Why did you come here with Knife Third?"
"I’m too stupid. I wanted to learn how to make A'he happy." The boy’s lips pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowing. "But it’s too noisy here, and the smells are awful. I didn’t learn anything. I’m never coming back to a place like this."
Chu'he’s expression softened. She climbed off him, pulled him up, dusted off his clothes, and tugged at one of his braids, making the red agate earring swing wildly.
"Hmph. Even though you didn’t do anything, I’m still mad. I won’t let you off so easily!"
Ninth didn’t know what Chu'he had in store for him. He stole glances at her but didn’t dare resist.
His gaze shifted subtly toward the man still sprawled on the floor.
Master Jin shuddered, scrambling behind a pillar to hide, not even daring to show his face.
Heart Knife and Zhou Xian were still locked in battle with the masked figure in black robes. Despite being outnumbered, the masked man held his own.
Heart Knife grew angrier with each strike. "You coward, hiding behind a mask—is your face too ugly to show? Show yourself, let me see what kind of freak you are!"
"After siring a bastard like you, your old man lost all his ‘seed.’" The masked man’s swordplay was fluid and unpredictable, effortlessly deflecting both blades.
Heart Knife cursed again, tossing aside his fan and abandoning all pretense of elegance. His strikes turned brutal, unrestrained, unleashing pure fury.
He fought recklessly, leaving Zhou Xian struggling to coordinate.
Then, a flash of steel split open a private room on the second floor.
The young man seated inside, sipping wine, lifted his gaze. His cup left his hand, arcing through the air to collide with the masked man’s sword.
The blade trembled, the impact numbing the masked man’s hand. His sword veered off course.
Heart Knife seized the opening, his blade gleaming—but just as his strike descended, a chopstick shot from the shadows like a blur, striking his blade dead-center.
Seizing the moment, the masked man glanced at the young man in the private room before leaping through the window and vanishing into the night.
Zhou Xian moved to pursue, but another chopstick forced him back with sheer force.
The young man’s figure blurred, reappearing in a shadowed corner. He raised a palm, energy coalescing—but a woman was suddenly hurled from the darkness into his path.
"Lord Wenren, a man of honor wouldn’t ignore a life in danger, would he?"
The hidden voice dripped with amusement, laced with mocking certainty.
The young man’s brow furrowed slightly. Reluctantly, he withdrew his strike and turned, catching the woman before she could shatter against the wall.
"My lord!"
Zhou Xian rushed over, bowing hastily.
The man’s sharp brows arched like drawn swords, his eyes upturned at the corners—a feature that should have been charming, but his dark, fathomless gaze tempered it with icy authority.
Clad in black brocade embroidered with golden clouds, his presence was regal, his face striking enough to inspire secret sketches—yet an aura of unapproachable dominance kept admirers at bay.
From the second floor, Chu'he leaned on the railing, murmuring, "So that’s Wenren Buxiao, the current lord of Canghai Continent."
The moment Wenren Buxiao appeared, the panicked crowd calmed, murmuring in awe at their fortune to witness the legendary lord in person.
Ninth glanced down at the revered figure, then at himself, then back at Chu'he. He tugged lightly at her sleeve and whispered,
"A'he, he’s already married two wives."
Chu'he blinked. "Huh?"
"Not like us Miaojiang folk. When we choose someone, it’s for eternity—even in death, our bones are shattered and mingled together in the cave burial."
Chu'he shuddered, rubbing her arms.
Ninth tilted his head, ruby-like eyes blinking. "Do you understand what I mean, A'he?"
Chu'he pushed his face away. "I don’t want to understand! I’m young, I want to live, I’m not ready to be buried!"
His handsome face squished under her hand, Ninth still tried to lean closer—only to be kicked away repeatedly.
"That bastard got away too fast!"
Heart Knife climbed back through the window, having failed to catch the masked man. His handsome face twisted in frustration.
Then, he felt a deeper chill.
Steel flashed. He turned to see the grinning girl, knife in hand.
"Knife Boy, let’s settle the score for dragging my man to a brothel."
